With the start of the 2024 Olympics fast approaching, French TV seems determined to modernize its services for the event. Indeed, a tender from France Télévisions reveals the timetable for the roll-out of new 4K channels, namely France 2 UHD and France 3 UHD.
Although 4K TVs have been on the market for ten years, the channels that broadcast content in UHD can be counted on the fingers of one hand in France. There are quite a few streams like TF1 4K, M6 4K, BeIn, Eurosport and even France TV on certain content, in particular rebroadcasts of Roland Garros matches.
However, these 4K variants do not offer all the programs mentioned above. Generally, they only broadcast during specific events (broadcasting of new movies, football matches, etc.).
France TV wants to switch to 4K
In the case of France TV, however, things could change quickly. Indeed, Twitter user Ultra-K spotted it a tender issued by France Télévisions. It is about a “Ultra High Definition DTT multiplex transport services market in mainland France” And “a framework agreement that aims to entrust an operator with the recovery of signals from the various Ultra High Definition (UHD) TV services”.
By clicking on a link in the invitation to tender it is possible to download 12 internal files revealing public service projects. For example, two additional 4K channels are being launched, namely France 2 UHD and France 3 UHD. They should land on the air between September 2023 and early 2024.
As for the due date, interested candidates have until February 11 to submit their profile. Amidst the avalanche of technical details in these documents, we learn that France 2 UHD and France 3 UHD are encoded in HEVCa codec that makes it possible to offer 4K at 50 frames per second. HDR10 is supported.
Regarding the required bandwidth, the documents mention speeds 12 Mb/s in mainland France and 16 Mb/s abroad. Finally and regarding the deployment of the two channels, obviously it will be in successive waves, September 2023 to early 2024. As you have understood, the intention is to launch these 4K channels before the start of the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
We have the answer for the deadlines in the document. Distribution planned from September 2023 in “successive waves”.
On the other hand, I find it surprising not to find my channel “Niort Maisonnay” given the coverage it has?! 🧐 pic.twitter.com/1tSwmJegPo
— ıllıllı Jarod ıllıll (@Jarod692001) March 22, 2023
